Mail-box signal.



A. R. BENNETT.

MAIL BOX SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 19x4,

1 ,',139,1 55. Patented May 11,1915.

1HF NORRIS PETERS c0., F'HdTO-LITHa, WASHINGTON, D. C

TTE SAT PATENT OFFIGE.

ARCHIE n. BENNETT, or KNOXVILLE, TEN ESSEE.

MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

Application filed January 29, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l', ARCHIE R. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox andState of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 5

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes of the type used in rural districts, wherein the mail boxes are situated at great distances from the houses; and relates more particularly to a simple andeasily operable form of signaling means which operates to ring a bell, that is preferably located in the home of the owner of the mail box when the latch or lock is operated to permit the lid of the mail box to be opened, thus signaling to the occupants of the house that a letter has been deposited within the mail box and in cases where unauthorized persons gain access to the box the owner of the box will be readily notified.

An important object of my invention is to provide mail box signaling means of the character described which is simple, cheap to install and reliable and eflicient in operation.

The above and additional objects are accomplished bysuch means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a mail box showing my signaling means attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates as an entirety an approximately rectangular mail box having a lid 2 that is hinged as at 3 to permit the deliverer of mails to drop the mail into the box.

My signahng means comprises a latch bar 4 that is pivoted at one end to a bracket 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Serial No. 815,226.

that is secured interiorly of the end wall of the mail box 1 that is adjacent to the free end of the lid 2. The free end of the latch bar at is provided with a lateral extension 6 that is arranged to cooperate with a centrally apertured latch plate 7. This latch plate 7 is mounted within a recess 8 formed in the under face of the lid 2 adjacent the free end thereof and is of sufficient size to permit the insertion and withdrawal of the latch bar a so that the extension 6 on the latch bar may be readily moved into and out of engagement with the outer or upper face of the latch plate 7.

As a means for normally holding the latch bar 4 in locked position, I provide a leaf spring 9 that is secured at one end as at 10 to the bracket 5 and at its other end engages the inner face or edge of the latch bar 4. The latch bar 4 is arranged at its end that is provided with the extension 6, so that the lid when dropped into closed position, will move the latch bar into latching engagement with the latch plate 7. An operating button 11 provided with a shank 12 that is slidable through an aperture 13 formed in the end wall to which the bracket 5 is attached, is operatively connected with the intermediate portion of the latch bar 4 so that the latch bar may be readily moved out of latching engagement with the latch plate 7 from the exterior of the mail box 1. As a means for signaling or alarming the occupants of the house adjacent to which the mail box 1 is placed, 1 provide an electrical circuit consisting of a battery or other'suitable source of current 14 arranged in circuit with a bell of the usual type 15 by means of conducting wires 16 and 17 The wire 16 is connected as at 18 with a lateral extension or flange 19 that is carried upon an L-shaped bracket or contact member designated 20. This L-shaped bracket or contact member is secured upon the end wall carrying the latch mechanism and arranged so that it is normally out of engagement with the latch bar 4. The conducting wire 17 is connected at one of its terminals to the bracket 5.

In operation to unlatch the lid 2 the operator pushes the button 11 inwardly causing the latch bar 4 to be moved out of engagement with the latch plate 7 When the latch bar a moves out of engagement with the latch plate 7 it engages one portion of the L-shaped bracket or contact member 20 and completes the circuit for the bell 15 as the current is carried from the bracket 5 to the latch bar.

It will be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that it is necessary to close the circuit for the bell 15 and bring about the ringing of the bell to free the hinged lid 2 from the latch bar 4. Attempts by unauthorized persons to remove the mail from the box 1 may be thwarted inasmuch as the bell 15 warns the owner of the mail box that the box is being opened and in case the mail is being delivered when this alarm is operating the owner of the box may readily remove the mail therefrom.

It will be readily seen that the device described serves to notify the owners of the box that letters or other mail have been deposited within the box.

It will be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that I have provided a simple and inexpensive signaling means which is reliable and eflicient in operation and may be cheaply installed.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practicable; yet revary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

\Vhat'is claimed is A circuit closer consisting of a support of insulating material, a latch bar pivoted on said support, a right angularly extending projection carried by said bar intermediate the ends thereof, a button on the outer end of said projection, a contact member carried by said support, a door having a latch placed thereon to cooperate with the latch bar, said latch bar being normally spaced from said contact member when the door is closed and the latch in latched position, and a spring to normally hold said latch by a latched position, said latch bar to engage said contact member to close a circuit when a push is given to the button on said projection to unlatch said latch bar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARCHIE R. BENNETT. Witnesses:

J OHN W. ANDEs,

VVILLIAM G SELRIDGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. I 

